Lesson 13 Assignments

[Wayne Petitto]

Wayne’s Delivers Insights Through Conflict

What I learned doing this assignment is that active words such as arguments, dilemmas, conflicts, misunderstandings, etc. carry the kinds of challenges that pry the change or steadfastness out of characters exposing internal ways, right or wrong.

1.
New way/insight: Peter vows to approach the next attractive woman he sees in order to get over his fear. (Old way = avoidance)
Kind of conflict: Misunderstanding. Jeannie is suspicious of men’s intentions since having been “dumped” because she wouldn’t “put out.”
Way to deliver: Peter is near the front of a long line for coffee and goes out of his way, offering to get Jeannie her choice of coffee when she appears about to leave because of the long line. At first, she refuses, but when she sees Peter’s reaction of rejection and defeat, she changes her mind and accepts the offer by handing him a $5 bill along with her choice. Peter insists he’ll pay, but Jeannie says he’s already doing her a big favor. Peter avoids further confrontation by taking the $5, and gets back in line, while she finds an open table for two.

2.
New way/insight: Jeanie discovers Peter couldn’t have been trying to get in her pants because he’s a virgin by choice.
Kind of conflict: Falsely accused / misunderstanding.
Way to deliver: After storming out on Peter at dinner the night before Jeannie jokes about Peters persecution tendencies.

PETER
How could I ever persecute you, Jeannie?
You’re about the best person I know … ever knew.

JEANNIE
That’s so sweet.
And not ‘cause you’re trying to seduce me?

PETER
What? ‘cause you’re a virgin?
You’re not the only one.

JEANNIE
So, you dated a chaste girl before?

PETER
More like she chased me.
Turned out, she was kind of a ho.

JEANNIE
Oh, too bad. That usually doesn’t last.

PETER
No, it was a non-starter.

Jeannie looks like she’s doing long division in her head, finally.

JEANNIE
How rude of me to assume you —

PETER
Don’t. It’s something I hide.

JEANNIE
But it’s a good thing. It really is. Oh my God,
I’m so sorry, how I went off on you last night.
I assumed just the opposite.

3.
Old way/insight: Jeannie and Peter cause problems when together.
Kind of conflict: Arguments with teachers and the Dean.
Way to deliver: In completely isolated situations, they have conflicts with their professors. The Dean of Students calls them into his office, not knowing they know each other. When they start to argue with him and defend each other, he realized they were also rumored to have started the Rathskeller brawl. So, he forbids them from associating with each other on campus, while he “considers further action.”

4.
New way/insight: Peter breaks free of his pure Catholic dogma.
Kind of conflict: Power struggle, specifically authoritative conflict with truth.
Way to deliver: Peter goes to confession feeling guilty about his past life, having put a Saint to death, and the Monsignor takes him into his office. Peter is convinced his past life experience was real, but the Monsignor is strict about Catholic doctrine against reincarnation (other than Jesus). Peter stands his grounds even when threatened by excommunication. As a result, after getting over the shock, he feels freer than ever before.

5.
New way/insight: Jeannie & Peter do what they do best – defend one another
(Old way was an escalating argument.)
Kind of conflict: Public humiliation: The stress of telling their story on TV along with the TV audience inciting them for a fight.
Way to deliver: As things seem to be disintegrating into highlighted differences, Jeannie and Peter stop being defensive of themselves, and begin defending one another. They put the audience in their place, outlining how society got so polarized, why, and what civilization needs to do about it, THEN they set themselves as an example with a grand gesture of forgiveness and grace. Speaking as their past personas for the world to see, they resolve a 600-year-old personal conflict, ending in a loving embrace.

[Erin Ziccarelli]

Erin Ziccarelli Delivers Insights Through Conflict

What I learned from doing this assignment is: the four types of conflicts and how they reveal deeper insights through arguments, uncovered secrets, true nature, and emotional issues. These are powerful ways to explore my characters and help the audience connect with their journeys.

With your list of the New Ways /
Insights you want audiences to experience, go through these steps:
Step 1. What is the New Way / Insight you want to
deliver?
Step 2. What kind of conflict could that
insight show up in?
Step 3. Brainstorm ways you might deliver
the insight through the conflict.

Alex’s new ways: optimistic, self-reliant, new understanding of family and the role of family in his life. Becomes self-affirming, trusting of himself, independent, and cooperative. Responsible, reliable, and trustworthy.

· Alex starting the business and running it on his own (himself v. his own doubts, Alex v. warden, Alex v. Roger and the money being held back)

· Rejection of the McCarthys and their ways (Alex v. Patrick, Alex v. Richard, final poker game)

· Staying sober (Alex during rehab, resisting the urge to use outside the bar)

· Admitting his relationship with Kitty and taking responsibility for Scarlett (telling Patrick the truth, final monologue)

· Taking responsibility for Will’s death, giving the last of the money to Scarlett

Come up with at least five (5)
different ways you can use conflict to express an insight.

· Argument provokes someone to tell the truth: Roger + Scarlett’s argument about Alex provokes Roger to reveal the truth about the inheritance (Nathanial is the benefactor)

· Conflict brings out true nature: Alex + Scarlett’s heated discussion over Alex’s “new ways” – she proves to him that he hasn’t yet changed…he still can’t admit the truth to her or own up to what happened with Kitty

· Conflict covers an emotional issue: Alex is terrified of being abandoned – when Jack and Shaun leave, he freaks out and pulls a gun on them. He realizes he’s powerless and must let them go.

· Conflict uncovers a secret: Ted and Alex’s feuding (even 20 years later) uncovers the truth about Scarlett.

· Loss: Alex’s constant struggle with loss and feeling alone/abandoned result in his need to have a support structure and others around him.